International

Research

Can Distraction and a Lack of Self Control as a Child Lead to Decreased Adult Success?

Can we help our students to cope with the many distractions they encounter? This longitudinal study examines the relationship between childhood self-control and adult outcome factors, including health and financial stability. Self-control had a stronger relationship with the adult outcome factors than other predictor variables, including socioeconomic status. The sample consisted of over 1,000 children in New Zealand born in the 1970s who were observed over a period of eight years and then revisited when they reached the age of 32. The study suggests that children avoiding overwhelming distraction through self-control is related to better health and financial well-being as adults. While this study supports self-control training and development for children from a young age, it should raise questions about how success is defined and whether or not other factors in childhood, adolescence, and early adulthood could also impact the factors for success.

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News

Mindfulness Programs In Schools

This article from the Huffington Post presents the findings from a study that examines how mindfulness can be used by adolescents to promote decreased symptoms of stress, anxiety and depression both immediately after and six months after the program. These decreases can be linked to a more positive educational experience as students are able to better focus on their learning in a less stressful setting.

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